Guide to the Herbert Stephen Desind Collection, 1950-1992

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Guide to the Herbert Stephen Desind Collection, 1950-1992 Guide to the Herbert Stephen Desind Collection, 1950-1992 Brian D. Nicklas 2003 National Air and Space Museum Archives 14390 Air & Space Museum Parkway Chantilly, VA 20151 [email protected] https://airandspace.si.edu/archives Table of Contents Collection Overview ........................................................................................................ 1 Administrative Information .............................................................................................. 1 Arrangement..................................................................................................................... 3 Biographical / Historical.................................................................................................... 2 Scope and Contents........................................................................................................ 3 Names and Subjects ...................................................................................................... 3 Container Listing ............................................................................................................. 4 Series 1: Unmanned Space Programs, undated..................................................... 4 Series 2: Manned Space Programs, undated...................................................... 398 Series 3: Aircraft, undated................................................................................... 523 Series 4: Countries, undated................................................................................ 599 Series 5: Miscellaneous, undated........................................................................ 606 Series 6: Press Kits, undated.............................................................................. 625 Herbert Stephen Desind Collection NASM.1997.0014 Collection Overview Repository: National Air and Space Museum Archives Title: Herbert Stephen Desind Collection Identifier: NASM.1997.0014 Date: 1950-1992 Extent: 109 Cubic feet (305 boxes) Creator: Desind, Herbert Stephen. Language: English . Summary: The collection consists of 109 cubic feet of material, primarily photographs with some additional documentation, covering aerospace topics. The bulk of the material relates to US space exploration, including extensive photo files on US manned missions through the Space Shuttle, and satellite and sounding rocket work. The first series consists of unmanned spacecraft material, the second series consists of manned spacecraft material, and the third series consists of aircraft material. Administrative Information Acquisition Information Barbara Desind Kernan, Gift, 1997 Processing Information The processing archivist found that the order of the collection paralleled for the most part the arrangement and order used by the National Air and Space Museum Archives in arranging the order of the NASM Archives Aviation and Space History Technical files. Desind's original order was maintained wherever possible. Desind tended to cross reference material by filing both payload and launch vehicle material under both the payload and the launch vehicle. In some cases these are not the same images, so the finding aid shows the main subject first and the secondary subject next on the subject line. The country of origin for non-US subjects is also shown. Filing was normally done by subject name rather than designation, which has been added for the sake of clarity. For subjects where the name is actually an acronym, the acronym has been spelled out. For larger files, items were sorted by vehicle number and/or launch date. These are shown on the subject line. The aircraft series were arranged somewhat haphazardly. Variously this was by designation, by company or origin, or by popular name. These files were rearranged to match the order used by the NASM Archives Techical Files; company, then designation, showing popular name. The emphasis Desind placed upon images over textual material is shown in the last series of material, which holds the press kits collected over time. The photographs were removed from the press kits and filed with the appropriate subject; however, in some cases the news releases themselves were only placed in a general folder marked "spacecraft" amongst the press kit holdings. For most of the cited subjects, Page 1 of 638 Herbert Stephen Desind Collection NASM.1997.0014 there is a lack of textual material on the subject, and the patron is reminded of further holdings in the NASM Archives Space History Technical Files. Files marked "Documents" contain response letters from the originators of the photographs to Desind, rather than documents pertaining to the subject of the files. "Emblems" files contain self-adhesive stickers and paper representations of emblems associated with the subject, including payloads and launchers. Stickers have been placed in mylar sleeving to prevent any glue residue from contacting other artifacts. Any cloth or embroidered emblems have been given to the respective curators. "Flight Covers," also known as Postal Covers, are envelopes postmarked and decorated to commemorate a launch or event. Photographs have been separated by type: black and white, color, or transparencies. Photograph folders are photographs only, lithographs and serigraphs have been placed in document folders. Machine transfer images have been placed in document folders. Although Desind was a model rocket builder, there are no blueprints or technical drawings of rockets with the collection. Preferred Citation Herbert Stephen Desind Collection, Accession 1997-0014, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution. Restrictions No restrictions on access. Biographical / Historical Herbert Stephen Desind was a Washington, D.C. area native born on January 15, 1945, raised in Silver Spring, Maryland and educated at the University of Maryland. He obtained his BA degree in Communications at Maryland in 1967, and began working in the local public schools as a science teacher. At the time of his death, in October 1992, he was a high school teacher and a freelance writer/lecturer on spaceflight. Desind also was an avid model rocketeer, specializing in using the Estes Cineroc, a model rocket with an 8mm movie camera mounted in the nose. To many members of the National Association of Rocketry (NAR), he was known as "Mr. Cineroc." His extensive requests worldwide for information and photographs of rocketry programs even led to a visit from FBI agents who asked him about the nature of his activities. Mr. Desind used the collection to support his writings in NAR publications, and his building scale model rockets for NAR competitions. Desind also used the material in the classroom, and in promoting model rocket clubs to foster an interest in spaceflight among his students. Desind entered the NASA Teacher in Space program in 1985, but it is not clear how far along his submission rose in the selection process. He was not a semi-finalist, although he had a strong application. In 1991, Desind was named Science Teacher of the Year by Prince George's County and the Potomac Electric Power Company. Desind died October 16, 1992, having succumbed to colon cancer. On November 17, 1994, the Herbert Desind Memorial Space Awareness Center, a state-of-the-art facility, was created and dedicated at Laurel High School. Today that Center houses the Cooperative Satellite Learning Project (CSLP) class as well as other science classes. The CSLP is a business, government, and educational partnership, focusing on space sciences and engineering. One of the sponsors of CSLP is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Page 2 of 638 Herbert Stephen Desind Collection NASM.1997.0014 In 1997, Desind's father and sister donated his collection to the National Air and Space Museum. Scope and Contents The Herbert Stephen Desind Collection (acc. 1997-0014) contains approximately 109 cubic feet of material relating to aviation and space flight. The material is primarily photographic in nature and focuses on manned and unmanned space flight activities. Arrangement • Series 1: Unmanned Space Programs • Series 2: Manned Space Programs • Series 3: Aviation subjects • Series 4: Country files • Series 5: Miscellaneous files • Series 6: Press Kits Names and Subject Terms This collection is indexed in the online catalog of the Smithsonian Institution under the following terms: Subjects: Artificial satellites Astronautics Manned space flight Rockets (Aeronautics) Space flight Space shuttles Types of Materials: Photographs Geographic Names: Outer space -- Exploration Page 3 of 638 Series 1: Unmanned Space Programs Herbert Stephen Desind Collection NASM.1997.0014 Container Listing Series 1: Unmanned Space Programs, undated Boxes 1-150 This series contains photographs and documents (such as correspondence covering Desind's requests for the photographs) on unmanned space programs, both national and international. Satellites are shown with their launch dates, and, where known, the launch vehicle is listed. Launch vehicles may also be listed as separate files for individual launches, with launch date. When known, the payload is also listed by name. When a large file holds material from two or more companies that competed for a project with the same name, the companies are shown on separate folders to avoid confusion. Box 1, Folder 1 A-1 Satellite (France) Image(s) B&W Photos Box 1, Folder 2 AAAM (Advanced Air to Air Missile)(AIM-152) Image(s) Documents Box 1, Folder 3 AAAM (Advanced Air to Air Missile)(AIM-152), Emblems Image(s)
Recommended publications
  • Sac's Kissing Cousins
    Ground crewmen bring a British RAF Bomber Command Vulcan V-bomber to a high state of readiness. In case of nuclear war bombers of the British V-force would likely spearhead any retaliatory attack. Vuleans, the world's largest delta. wing bombers, carry either conventional or nuclear bombs internally and one Blue Steel standoff weapon externally. Although there are some misgivings about the future, today's British RAF Bomber Command is decidedly a viable force for the 1960s. Here is a report on the powerful capabilities of the United Kingdom's nuclear aerospace force . SAC'S KISSING COUSINS HE officer commanding, seated in the War Room of his operational control center, reached for the T red phone and spoke an order into it which ener- gized his widely dispersed command. The order was a single word—Scramble! A small but superbly trained band of men sprang into action. With machine precision, they raced By Richard Clayton Peet through prescribed checkout procedures, preparing their planes for flight. Jet engines began their roar. Seconds later, hundreds of aircraft were on the roll. In less than two minutes, a giant nuclear retaliatory armada was airborne. Most Americans would immediately conclude that the situation described was taking place in our own Strategic Air Command. We have become accustomed 28 AIR FORCE Magazine • January 1964 Sir John Grandy, Bomber Commander CinC, credits Valiant, first V-bomber, today is used primarily as a tanker. technical innovation and high crew proficiency with Here a Valiant refuels one of the Vulcans that made the first keeping Bomber Command a viable force in the 1960s.
    [Show full text]
  • General Assembly Distr.: General 9 September 2014 English Original: Chinese/English/French/ Spanish
    United Nations A/69/124/Add.1 General Assembly Distr.: General 9 September 2014 English Original: Chinese/English/French/ Spanish Sixty-ninth session Item 97 of the provisional agenda* General and complete disarmament United Nations Register of Conventional Arms Report of the Secretary-General Addendum** Contents Page II. Information received from Governments............................................ 2 A. Index of information submitted by Governments ................................. 2 B. Reports received from Governments on conventional arms transfers ................. 3 III. Information received from Governments on military holdings and procurement through national production ............................................................. 10 IV. Information received from Governments on international transfers of small arms and light weapons ...................................................................... 19 * A/69/150. ** The information contained in the present addendum was received after the issuance of the main report. 14-60679 (E) 190914 290914 *1460679* A/69/124/Add.1 II. Information received from Governments A. Index of information submitted by Governments Background information International Procurement transfers of Views on the through small arms Register/ Data on Data on Military national and light national State Report received on exports imports holdings production weapons policies 1. Argentina 30 June 2014 nil X X nil X .. 2. Australia 28 August 2014 X nil X X X .. 3. Belgium 17 July 2014 X X X .. .. .. 4. Bosnia and Herzegovina 27 June 2014 X nil .. .. .. .. 5. Brazil 26 August 2014 X X .. .. .. .. 6. Cambodia 2 September 2014 nil nil .. .. .. .. 7. China 28 July 2014 X nil .. .. .. .. 8. Grenada 5 September 2014 nil nil .. .. .. .. 9. Hungary 5 August 2014 X X X .. X .. 10. Republic of Moldova 28 August 2014 nil nil .. .. .. .. 11. Trinidad and Tobago 2 September 2014 .
    [Show full text]
  • Sixty Years of Australia in Space
    Journal & Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales, vol. 153, part 1, 2020, pp. 46–57. ISSN 0035-9173/20/010046-12 Sixty years of Australia in space Kerrie Dougherty Space Humanities Department, International Space University, Strasbourg, France Email: [email protected] Abstract Australia’s involvement in space activities commenced in 1957, at the beginning of the Space Age, with space tracking and sounding rocket launches at Woomera. By 1960, Australia was considered one of the leading space-active nations and in 1967 became one of the earliest countries to launch its own satellite. Yet by 1980, Australia’s space prominence had dwindled, with the country lacking both a national space agency and a coherent national space policy. Despite attempts in the latter part of the 1980s to develop an Australian space industry, the lack of a coherent and consistent national space policy and an effective co-ordinating body, left Australia constantly “punching below its weight” in global space activities until the Twenty First Century. This paper will briefly examine the often-contradictory history of Australian space activities from 1957 to the announcement of the Australian Space Agency in 2017, providing background and context for the later papers in this issue. Introduction Launchpad: the Woomera or 60,000 years the Indigenous people of Rocket Range FAustralia have looked to the sky, using “If the Woomera Range did not already exist, the stars to determine their location, find the proposal that Australia should engage in their way across the land and mark the a program of civil space research would be passage of the seasons and the best times unrealistic”.
    [Show full text]
  • ATLAS II | At-Large Summit London 2014
    EN AL-ATLAS-02-DCL-01-01-EN ORIGINAL: English DATE: 26 June 2014 STATUS: Final The 2nd At-Large Summit (ATLAS II) FINAL DECLARATION Introductory Text By the Staff of ICANN Representatives of approximately one hundred and fifty (150) At-Large Structures (“ALSes”) from five Regional At-Large Organizations (“RALOs”) representing ICANN's global At-Large Community met at the 2nd At-Large Summit (ATLAS II) as part of the 50th ICANN meeting in London, United Kingdom between 21-26 June 2014. Amongst the various activities of the Summit were five Thematic Groups on issues of concern to the At-Large Community. The subjects for the Thematic Groups were selected by the representatives of ALSes. Each Summit participant was allocated to the Thematic Group according to his/her preference. The five Thematic Groups were: Thematic Group 1 (TG1): Future of Multi-Stakeholder Models Thematic Group 2 (TG2): The Globalization of ICANN Thematic Group 3 (TG3): Global Internet: The User Perspective Thematic Group 4 (TG4): ICANN Transparency and Accountability Thematic Group 5 (TG5): At-Large Community Engagement in ICANN All Thematic Groups commenced their work on Saturday 21 June 2014, the opening day of the Summit, and then each met in four individual breakout sessions during the Summit to finalize their statements. The text that follows, including the appendix which is an integral part of the Final Declaration, was endorsed by approximately 150 ALSes on the morning of Thursday, 26 June 2014 and then endorsed by the At-Large Advisory Committee (ALAC) by acclamation on the same day. The Final Declaration is to be presented to the Board of ICANN at its public session in London, United Kingdom on Thursday, 26 June 2014.
    [Show full text]
  • L AUNCH SYSTEMS Databk7 Collected.Book Page 18 Monday, September 14, 2009 2:53 PM Databk7 Collected.Book Page 19 Monday, September 14, 2009 2:53 PM
    databk7_collected.book Page 17 Monday, September 14, 2009 2:53 PM CHAPTER TWO L AUNCH SYSTEMS databk7_collected.book Page 18 Monday, September 14, 2009 2:53 PM databk7_collected.book Page 19 Monday, September 14, 2009 2:53 PM CHAPTER TWO L AUNCH SYSTEMS Introduction Launch systems provide access to space, necessary for the majority of NASA’s activities. During the decade from 1989–1998, NASA used two types of launch systems, one consisting of several families of expendable launch vehicles (ELV) and the second consisting of the world’s only partially reusable launch system—the Space Shuttle. A significant challenge NASA faced during the decade was the development of technologies needed to design and implement a new reusable launch system that would prove less expensive than the Shuttle. Although some attempts seemed promising, none succeeded. This chapter addresses most subjects relating to access to space and space transportation. It discusses and describes ELVs, the Space Shuttle in its launch vehicle function, and NASA’s attempts to develop new launch systems. Tables relating to each launch vehicle’s characteristics are included. The other functions of the Space Shuttle—as a scientific laboratory, staging area for repair missions, and a prime element of the Space Station program—are discussed in the next chapter, Human Spaceflight. This chapter also provides a brief review of launch systems in the past decade, an overview of policy relating to launch systems, a summary of the management of NASA’s launch systems programs, and tables of funding data. The Last Decade Reviewed (1979–1988) From 1979 through 1988, NASA used families of ELVs that had seen service during the previous decade.
    [Show full text]
  • Cruise Missiles Post World War II
    Cruise missiles milestones MILE post STONES World War II Dr Carlo Kopp THE BASIC TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATIONAL CONCEPT OF MODERN CRUISE MISSILES EMERGED DURING THE LATE 1960S, at the peak of the Cold War era. This type of weapon was exemplified by the RGM-109 Tomahawk series, the AGM-86C/D CALCM, the AGM-158 JASSM, and the Russian Kh-55SM Granat. Much less known is the generation of cruise missile technology that supplanted the 1940s era FZG-76/V-1 and its Russian and American clone variants. A good number of the former Soviet weapons of this generation remain in use, some still in production. The aim of all cruise missile designs is to provide a weapon that can strike at a target while not exposing the launch platform to attack by enemy defences, whether the launch platform is an aircraft, surface warship, submarine or ground vehicle. Key parameters in the design of any cruise missile are its standoff range, its accuracy and its survivability against target defences. Increasing standoff range reduces risk to the launch platform while increasing accuracy and survivability reduces the number of launches required to achieve desired effect. The economics of bombardment are simple: the more expensive the weapon employed, the smaller the war stock available for combat at any time, and the longer it takes to replenish this war stock once expended. Northrop SM-62 Snark strategic cruise missile. This enormous 50,000 lb plus GLCM was built to directly attack the Soviet Union from US basing. It introduced the fi rst stellar-inertial guidance system in a cruise missile.
    [Show full text]
  • The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, Vol
    The Online Library of Liberty A Project Of Liberty Fund, Inc. Geoffrey Chaucer, The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer, vol. 7 (Supplement: Chaucerian and Other Pieces) [1897] The Online Library Of Liberty This E-Book (PDF format) is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., a private, non-profit, educational foundation established in 1960 to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. 2010 was the 50th anniversary year of the founding of Liberty Fund. It is part of the Online Library of Liberty web site http://oll.libertyfund.org, which was established in 2004 in order to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. To find out more about the author or title, to use the site's powerful search engine, to see other titles in other formats (HTML, facsimile PDF), or to make use of the hundreds of essays, educational aids, and study guides, please visit the OLL web site. This title is also part of the Portable Library of Liberty DVD which contains over 1,000 books and quotes about liberty and power, and is available free of charge upon request. The cuneiform inscription that appears in the logo and serves as a design element in all Liberty Fund books and web sites is the earliest-known written appearance of the word “freedom” (amagi), or “liberty.” It is taken from a clay document written about 2300 B.C. in the Sumerian city-state of Lagash, in present day Iraq. To find out more about Liberty Fund, Inc., or the Online Library of Liberty Project, please contact the Director at [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • Classification of Geosynchronous Objects Issue 12
    EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY EUROPEAN SPACE OPERATIONS CENTRE GROUND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT Space Debris Office CLASSIFICATION OF GEOSYNCHRONOUS OBJECTS ISSUE 12 by R. Choc and R. Jehn Produced with the DISCOS Database February 2010 ESOC Robert-Bosch-Str. 5, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany 3 Abstract This is a status report on geosynchronous objects as of the end of 2009. Based on orbital data in ESA’s DISCOS database and on orbital data provided by KIAM the situation near the geostationary ring (here defined as orbits with mean motion between 0.9 and 1.1 revolutions per day, eccentricity smaller than 0.2 and inclination below 30 deg) is analysed. From 1161 objects for which orbital data are available, 391 are controlled inside their longitude slots, 594 are drifting above, below or through GEO, 169 are in a libration orbit and 7 whose status could not be determined. Furthermore, there are 77 uncontrolled objects without orbital data (of which 66 have not been catalogued). Thus the total number of known objects in the geostationary region is 1238. During 2009 twenty-one spacecraft reached end-of-life. Eleven of them were reorbited following the IADC recommendations, one spacecraft was reorbited with a perigee of 225 km - it is not yet clear if it will enter the 200-km protected zone around GEO or not -, six spacecraft were reorbited too low and three spacecraft did not or could not make any reorbiting manouevre at all and are now librating inside the geostationary ring. If you detect any error or if you have any comment or question please contact R¨udiger Jehn European Space Operations Center Robert-Bosch-Str.
    [Show full text]
  • Atlas Launch System Mission Planner's Guide, Atlas V Addendum
    ATLAS Atlas Launch System Mission Planner’s Guide, Atlas V Addendum FOREWORD This Atlas V Addendum supplements the current version of the Atlas Launch System Mission Plan- ner’s Guide (AMPG) and presents the initial vehicle capabilities for the newly available Atlas V launch system. Atlas V’s multiple vehicle configurations and performance levels can provide the optimum match for a range of customer requirements at the lowest cost. The performance data are presented in sufficient detail for preliminary assessment of the Atlas V vehicle family for your missions. This guide, in combination with the AMPG, includes essential technical and programmatic data for preliminary mission planning and spacecraft design. Interface data are in sufficient detail to assess a first-order compatibility. This guide contains current information on Lockheed Martin’s plans for Atlas V launch services. It is subject to change as Atlas V development progresses, and will be revised peri- odically. Potential users of Atlas V launch service are encouraged to contact the offices listed below to obtain the latest technical and program status information for the Atlas V development. For technical and business development inquiries, contact: COMMERCIAL BUSINESS U.S. GOVERNMENT INQUIRIES BUSINESS INQUIRIES Telephone: (691) 645-6400 Telephone: (303) 977-5250 Fax: (619) 645-6500 Fax: (303) 971-2472 Postal Address: Postal Address: International Launch Services, Inc. Commercial Launch Services, Inc. P.O. Box 124670 P.O. Box 179 San Diego, CA 92112-4670 Denver, CO 80201 Street Address: Street Address: International Launch Services, Inc. Commercial Launch Services, Inc. 101 West Broadway P.O. Box 179 Suite 2000 MS DC1400 San Diego, CA 92101 12999 Deer Creek Canyon Road Littleton, CO 80127-5146 A current version of this document can be found, in electronic form, on the Internet at: http://www.ilslaunch.com ii ATLAS LAUNCH SYSTEM MISSION PLANNER’S GUIDE ATLAS V ADDENDUM (AVMPG) REVISIONS Revision Date Rev No.
    [Show full text]
  • ARIEL – 13Th Appleton Space Conference PLANETS ARE UBIQUITOUS
    Background image credit NASA ARIEL – 13th Appleton Space Conference PLANETS ARE UBIQUITOUS OUR GALAXY IS MADE OF GAS, STARS & PLANETS There are at least as many planets as stars Cassan et al, 2012; Batalha et al., 2015; ARIEL – 13th Appleton Space Conference 2 EXOPLANETS TODAY: HUGE DIVERSITY 3700+ PLANETS, 2700 PLANETARY SYSTEMS KNOWN IN OUR GALAXY ARIEL – 13th Appleton Space Conference 3 HUGE DIVERSITY: WHY? FORMATION & EVOLUTION PROCESSES? MIGRATION? INTERACTION WITH STAR? Accretion Gaseous planets form here Interaction with star Planet migration Ices, dust, gas ARIEL – 13th Appleton Space Conference 4 STAR & PLANET FORMATION/EVOLUTION WHAT WE KNOW: CONSTRAINTS FROM OBSERVATIONS – HERSCHEL, ALMA, SOLAR SYSTEM Measured elements in Solar system ? Image credit ESA-Herschel, ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), Marty et al, 2016; André, 2012; ARIEL – 13th Appleton Space Conference 5 THE SUN’S PLANETS ARE COLD SOME KEY O, C, N, S MOLECULES ARE NOT IN GAS FORM T ~ 150 K Image credit NASA Juno mission, NASA Galileo ARIEL – 13th Appleton Space Conference 6 WARM/HOT EXOPLANETS O, C, N, S (TI, VO, SI) MOLECULES ARE IN GAS FORM Atmospheric pressure 0.01Bar H2O gas CO2 gas CO gas CH4 gas HCN gas TiO gas T ~ 500-2500 K Condensates VO gas H2S gas 1 Bar Gases from interior ARIEL – 13th Appleton Space Conference 7 CHEMICAL MEASUREMENTS TODAY SPECTROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS WITH CURRENT INSTRUMENTS (HUBBLE, SPITZER,SPHERE,GPI) • Precision of 20 ppm can be reached today by Hubble-WFC3 • Current data are sparse, instruments not absolutely calibrated • ~ 40 planets analysed
    [Show full text]
  • Aeronautics and Space Report of the President
    Aeronautics and Space Report of the President 1971 Activities NOTE TO READERS: ALL PRINTED PAGES ARE INCLUDED, UNNUMBERED BLANK PAGES DURING SCANNING AND QUALITY CONTROL CHECK HAVE BEEN DELETED Aeronautics and Space Report of the President 197 I Activities i W Executive Office of the President National Aeronautics and Space Council Washington, D.C. 20502 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE OF TRANSMITTAL To the Congress of the United States: I am pleased to transmit herewith a report of our national progress in aero- nautics and space activities during 1971. This report shows that we have made forward strides toward each of the six objectives which I set forth for a balanced space program in my statement of March 7, 1970. Aided by the improvements we have made in mobility, our explorers on the moon last summer produced new, exciting and useful evidence on the structure and origin of the moon. Several phenomena which they uncovered are now under study. Our unmanned nearby observation of Mars is similarly valuable and significant for the advancement of science. During 1971, we gave added emphasis to aeronautics activities which contribute substantially to improved travel conditions, safety and security, and we gained in- creasing recognition that space and aeronautical research serves in many ways to keep us in the forefront of man’s technological achievements. There can be little doubt that the investments we are now making in explora- tions of the unknown are but a prelude to the accomplishments of mankind in future generations. THEWHITE HOUSE, March 1972 iii Table of Contents Page Page I . Progress Toward U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Missilesmissilesdr Carlo Kopp in the Asia-Pacific
    MISSILESMISSILESDr Carlo Kopp in the Asia-Pacific oday, offensive missiles are the primary armament of fighter aircraft, with missile types spanning a wide range of specialised niches in range, speed, guidance technique and intended target. With the Pacific Rim and Indian Ocean regions today the fastest growing area globally in buys of evolved third generation combat aircraft, it is inevitable that this will be reflected in the largest and most diverse inventory of weapons in service. At present the established inventories of weapons are in transition, with a wide variety of Tlegacy types in service, largely acquired during the latter Cold War era, and new technology 4th generation missiles are being widely acquired to supplement or replace existing weapons. The two largest players remain the United States and Russia, although indigenous Israeli, French, German, British and Chinese weapons are well established in specific niches. Air to air missiles, while demanding technologically, are nevertheless affordable to develop and fund from a single national defence budget, and they result in greater diversity than seen previously in larger weapons, or combat aircraft designs. Air-to-air missile types are recognised in three distinct categories: highly agile Within Visual Range (WVR) missiles; less agile but longer ranging Beyond Visual Range (BVR) missiles; and very long range BVR missiles. While the divisions between the latter two categories are less distinct compared against WVR missiles, the longer ranging weapons are often quite unique and usually much larger, to accommodate the required propellant mass. In technological terms, several important developments have been observed over the last decade.
    [Show full text]